Attachment mechanism and system for footwear

ABSTRACT

An attachment mechanism and system for detachably securing an attachment piece to a sandal or a regular shoe. The attachment piece wraps around the leg of the wearer thereby transforming the sandal or the regular shoe into a different type of footwear. The attachment mechanism and system comprises a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end, and a metal ring inserted in the loop. The rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or regular shoe. The attachment mechanism and system also constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to footwears. More specifically, the invention relates to an attachment mechanism and system for detachably securing an attachment piece to a sandal or a regular shoe. The attachment mechanism and system according to the invention also constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various types of footwear. Typically, a type of footwear is selected by the wearer based on factors including weather conditions, the occasion or to match an outfit or a bag. Accordingly, it is generally necessary to own different types of footwear, which is costly. It is known in the art to provide attachment mechanisms allowing for a footwear to be readily transformed into a different type by the wearer. Such mechanisms are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,219,445; 7,168,189; CA 1,293,614.

There is a need to be able to readily transform a sandal or a regular shoe into a different type of footwear, for example a type that also embodies the legs of the wearer. Also, there is a need for attachment mechanisms that also constitute aesthetic components to the footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has designed and constructed an attachment mechanism and system for securing an attachment piece to a sandal or a regular shoe. The attachment piece wraps around the leg of the wearer thereby transforming the sandal or the regular shoe into a different type of footwear.

In embodiments of the invention, the attachment mechanism and system constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear. In further embodiments, the attachment mechanism and system may also be used to secure other aesthetic components to the footwear.

The invention thus provides the following in accordance with aspects thereof:

-   (1) An attachment mechanism and system for a footwear, comprising: a     planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet     at a section of the other end; and a metal ring inserted in the     loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located     on an upper section of the footwear. -   (2) The attachment mechanism and system according to (1), wherein     the loop element is made of a flexible or foldable material.

(3) The attachment mechanism and system according to (1) or (2), wherein the rivet is made of a metallic material.

(4) The attachment mechanism and system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the rivet is a Chicago screw rivet.

(5) The attachment mechanism and system according to (1), wherein the loop element and the rivet are made of a same flexible material, optionally the loop element and the rivet form a one-piece unit.

(6) The attachment mechanism and system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the loop element and the rivet are detachably or fixedly attached.

(7) The attachment mechanism and system according to any one of (1) to (6), which constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear.

(8) The attachment mechanism and system according to (7), further comprising at least one other aesthetic component detachably or fixedly attached to the ring.

(9) The attachment mechanism and system according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the footwear is a sandal or a regular shoe.

(10) A method of transforming a sandal or a regular shoe, comprising: providing an attachment piece adapted to be wrapped around a leg of a user; providing an attachment mechanism and system which comprises a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end, and a metal ring inserted in the loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or regular shoe; securing the attachment mechanism and system to the upper of the sandal through the rivet and the hole; and attaching the attachment piece to the ring through an attachment means.

(11) The method according to (10), wherein the attachment means is a metal swivel clasp, or the attachment means is a magnetic snap system provided at a lower section of the attachment piece.

(12) The method according to (10) or (11), wherein the attachment piece comprises at least one hole, and the method further comprises securing at least one attachment mechanism and system to the attachment piece on an external surface thereof through the rivet and the hole.

(13) The method according to any one of (10) to (12), wherein the attachment piece is provided with the attachment means as a one-piece unit.

(14) A method of providing an aesthetic component to a sandal or regular shoe, comprising: providing an attachment mechanism and system which comprises a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end, and a metal ring inserted in the loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or regular shoe; and securing the attachment mechanism and system to the upper of the sandal or regular shoe through the rivet and the hole.

(15) The method according to (14), further comprising attaching another aesthetic component to the ring.

(16) The method according to (15), wherein the other aesthetic component is an elongated piece, and the method comprises attaching a first end of the elongated piece to the ring and attaching a second end to a rear portion of the sandal or regular shoe.

(17) A footwear comprising the attachment mechanism and system as defined in any one of (1) to (8).

(18) A sandal or regular shoe comprising the attachment mechanism and system as defined in any one of (1) to (8).

(19) A transformed sandal or regular shoes obtained by the method as defined in any one of (10) to (13).

(20) A kit comprising: the attachment mechanism and system as defined in any one of (1) to (8); an attachment means; and an attachment piece.

(21) A kit comprising: the attachment mechanism and system as defined in any one of (1) to (8); a metal swivel clasp and/or a magnetic snap system; and an attachment piece.

(22) The kit according to (20) or (21), further comprising another aesthetic component adapted to be attached to at least the attachment mechanism and system.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIG. 1: Components of the attachment mechanism and system according to the invention.

FIG. 2: Sandal with the attachment mechanism and system.

FIG. 3: Sandal with attachment piece secured thereto.

FIG. 4: Regular shoe with the attachment mechanism and system.

FIG. 5: Regular shoe with attachment piece secured thereto.

FIG. 6: Embodiment showing the attachment mechanism and system and another aesthetic component.

FIG. 7: Embodiment showing the attachment piece secured, more than one attachment mechanism and system, and another aesthetic component.

FIG. 8: Embodiment of the components of the attachment mechanism and system.

FIG. 9: Embodiment of the attachment mechanism and system.

FIG. 10: Sandal with embodiment of the attachment mechanism and system.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is further described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described below, as variations of these embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments; and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by the appended claims.

In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the terms used in the present specification, a number of definitions are provided below. Moreover, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms as used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

Use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” ( and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or process steps.

The inventor has designed and constructed an attachment mechanism and system for securing an attachment piece to a sandal or a regular shoe. The attachment piece wraps around the leg of the wearer thereby transforming the sandal or the regular shoe into a different type of footwear. The attachment mechanism and system also constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear, and may further be used to secure other aesthetic components to the footwear.

Referring to FIG. 1, the components of the attachment mechanism and system of the invention are illustrated. The planar elongated loop element is illustrated; more specifically, a top elevation view 10A and a side elevation view 10B thereof are illustrated. The loop element comprises a loop 3 at one end and a rivet 4 at a section of the other end. The loop element is inserted in the metal ring 1. The rivet 4 is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or the regular shoe. This is illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sandal or shoe is transformed into a different type of footwear, for example a footwear which embodies the leg of the wearer. In this embodiment, an attachment piece 5 adapted to wrap around the leg is provided. As will be understood by a skilled person other attachment pieces of various styles and designs may also be used. The combination loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 is secured to an upper section of the sandal 20 or the regular shoe 40 through the rivet 4 and the hole, and serves as a means to attach an attachment piece 5 to the sandal or shoe.

The loop element 3 is made of a flexible or foldable material. In embodiments of the invention, the ring 1 is a metal ring. In other embodiments, the loop element 3 and the rivet 4 may be made of the same flexible material. In these embodiments, the loop element 3 and the rivet 4 may constitute a one-piece unit. In yet other embodiments, the rivet 4 may be made of metal. This ensures effectiveness and durability. As will be understood by a skilled person, other mechanisms such as toggle chains of varying lengths may also be used. In particular where the sandal or shoe design allows for larger receiving holes.

The combination loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 also constitutes an aesthetic component to the sandal or shoe.

Attachment between the combination loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 and the attachment piece 5 is made by an attachment mean which may be a metal swivel clasp 2. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.

As can be seen in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5, further attachment means such as metal swivel clasps 2 may be used to secure a rear section of the attachment piece 5 to a rear portion of the sandal 20 or regular shoe 40. In these embodiments, other rings 22,42 are provided at the rear portion of the sandal 20 or regular shoe 40 to receive the metal swivel clasps 2.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate another type of sandal 60. The upper section of the sandal on which the combination loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 is secured is located around a middle portion of the sandal 60. In this embodiment, the ring 1 of the combination is further attached to another aesthetic component 64. As can be seen in these figures, a first end of the other aesthetic component 64 is attached to the ring 1 of the combination and the other end is attached to a first set of other rings 62 provided at the rear portion of the sandal. As will be understood, the combination loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 in this embodiment constitutes an aesthetic component and also an attachment means for securing another aesthetic component 64 to the sandal 60.

Also, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a second set of other rings 66 is provided on the upper section located around the middle portion of the sandal. The rings of this second set of other rings 66 secure the metal swivel clasps 2 thereby allowing for the attachment of the attachment piece 5 to the sandal 60. As can be seen, the first set of other rings 62 also allow for the attachment of the attachment piece 5 to the rear portion of the sandal 60.

Moreover, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, two additional combinations loop element 3, rivet 4 and ring 1 are provided on the attachment piece 5. Each of these additional combinations constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate an embodiment of the attachment means for attaching the attachment piece 5 to the sandal. In this embodiment, snap closures are used. They are affixed to prongs 6 which are inserted into the upper on the attachment piece 5 through cutouts made specifically to receive these prongs 6. These parts are then folded behind the upper to ensure that each prong 6 of the magnetic snap closure 7 is fixed discretely between the upper and the lining.

FIG. 8 illustrates the components of the attachment mechanism and system of the invention including the magnetic snap attachment.

As will be understood by a skilled person, the attachment mechanism and system according to the invention may also be used in accessories than footwear. For example, the attachment mechanism and system may be use in conjunction with article of clothing, a bag.

Other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The principle of the invention has been described above in connection with specific embodiments, only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims should not be limited by these embodiments, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

1. An attachment mechanism and system for a footwear, comprising: a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end; and a metal ring inserted in the loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the footwear.
 2. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the loop element is made of a flexible or foldable material.
 3. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the rivet is made of a metallic material.
 4. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the rivet is a Chicago screw rivet.
 5. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the loop element and the rivet are made of a same flexible material, optionally the loop element and the rivet form a one-piece unit.
 6. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the loop element and the rivet are detachably or fixedly attached.
 7. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, which constitutes an aesthetic component to the footwear.
 8. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 7, further comprising at least one other aesthetic component detachably or fixedly attached to the ring.
 9. The attachment mechanism and system according to claim 1, wherein the footwear is a sandal or a regular shoe.
 10. A method of transforming a sandal or a regular shoe, comprising: providing an attachment piece adapted to be wrapped around a leg of a user; providing an attachment mechanism and system which comprises a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end, and a metal ring inserted in the loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or regular shoe; securing the attachment mechanism and system to the upper of the sandal through the rivet and the hole; and attaching the attachment piece to the ring through an attachment means.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the attachment means is a metal swivel clasp, or the attachment means is a magnetic snap system provided at a lower section of the attachment piece.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the attachment piece comprises at least one hole, and the method further comprises securing at least one attachment mechanism and system to the attachment piece on an external surface thereof through the rivet and the hole.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the attachment piece is provided with the attachment means as a one-piece unit.
 14. A method of providing an aesthetic component to a sandal or regular shoe, comprising: providing an attachment mechanism and system which comprises a planar elongated loop element having a loop at one end and a rivet at a section of the other end, and a metal ring inserted in the loop, wherein the rivet is adapted to be received in a hole located on an upper section of the sandal or regular shoe; and securing the attachment mechanism and system to the upper of the sandal or regular shoe through the rivet and the hole.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising attaching another aesthetic component to the ring.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the other aesthetic component is an elongated piece, and the method comprises attaching a first end of the elongated piece to the ring and attaching a second end to a rear portion of the sandal or regular shoe.
 17. A footwear comprising the attachment mechanism and system as defined in claim 1, optionally the footwear is a sandal or a regular shoe.
 18. A transformed sandal or regular shoes obtained by the method as defined in claim
 10. 19. A kit comprising: the attachment mechanism and system as defined in any one of claim 1; an attachment means; and an attachment piece, and optionally another aesthetic component adapted to be attached to at least the attachment mechanism and system.
 20. A kit comprising: the attachment mechanism and system as defined in claim 1; a metal swivel clasp and/or a magnetic snap system; and an attachment piece, and optionally another aesthetic component adapted to be attached to at least the attachment mechanism and system. 